CHIC CHAT

CHIC Webinars

CHIC has now delivered 3 successful webinars out of our current series of 8.

Over the past few weeks, we have been hosting webinar sessions to replace our annual conference this year. Over 150 people have joined us to learn about what compliance and building safety means post covid-19, how as a sector we can contribute to meeting out zero carbon targets and how both landlords and contractors have reacted to the latest fire safety legislations.

“Great content” “Great Speakers” “A lot slicker than some webinars I have attended”

Join us next week where we will be hosting the final week of CHIC Webinars!
Please use the links below to register your place.

Building Safer Homes
So finally, government has published its draft Building Safety Bill. Find out what it really means for the housing and construction sectors.
19th October 2020 – 10:00am

Factory Built New Homes
CHIC launched its drive to embrace MMC in 2016. There has since been lots of noise about offsite construction. Find out what has happened and how CHIC’s new offer will increase future housing supply.
19th October 2020 – 14:00pm

Homes and Communities
Do you provide great homes, or great homes in great places? This webinar will discuss the balance between being a good landlord and one that supports strong communities.
21st October 2020 – 14:00pm

Best Route to Market
Frameworks, Contracts or Dynamic Purchasing? Which route to market is going to give your organisation the best value for money and drive efficiencies. This webinar will consider the options that works best for you.
23rd October 2020 – 10:00am

Keynote Panel Discussion
To replace the main session at CHIC’s 2020 conference, we have a high-profile panel of speakers who will give their views on the current big issues for the sector. Chaired by the BBC’s Mark Easton, expect a thought-provoking webinar to make sure your organisation is looking at the right things in 2021.
23rd October 2020 – 14:00pm

Procurement Policy Note

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George Boyd

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CHIC’s New Modular Framework

Being a housing consortium provides CHIC with a unique perspective to gain insight into the direction of the UK housing market. Changing the face of housing delivery through MMC, particularly full off-site manufacture, has been on CHIC’s agenda for many years. CHIC was amongst the few early adopters to deliver a procured solution. Having a close relationship with both housing and construction professionals means that CHIC can develop long-term contracts that accommodate the needs of a changing market.

The recent statement by Secretary of State for Housing Robert Jenrick, announcing the 2021-2026 £11.5bn Affordable Housing Programme, sets out a series of ambitious housebuilding targets to help improve the efficiency of the UK development sector.

Organisations seeking Grant and looking to sign strategic partnership deals with Homes England to build large numbers of affordable homes will have to commit to using modern methods of construction (MMC) to build at least 25% of their pipeline.

In anticipation of increased demand and a requirement to produce more cost-effective homes, faster, and to increase the number of BuildSmart options available to members, CHIC tendered for 3 new modular providers in June. With the OJEU compliant procurement completed in September.

Our new BuildSmart solution comprises of three contracts for the manufacture, supply and erection of new modular (volumetric) homes with options for all site works through and turnkey contracts. We look forward to working with Elements Europe, Modular AR and Impact Modular to change the face of housing delivery.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

In Other News

CHIC had its 10th anniversary during 2019/20. We had a very strong year supporting a growing membership and working with a wider set of supply chain partners. Some great outcomes were achieved despite the unexpected circumstances we all experienced from the coronavirus pandemic. Please see the link below to download our Annual Report, which we hope you will find of interest.

DOWNLOAD OUR ANNUAL REPORT

Our updated legal services framework went live in July. We have since received a lot of interest and many of our members have been using the framework to receive expert advice and cost savings across 3 legal workstream lots. Some of the housing specialist law firms on our framework include:

Clarke Willmott’s national team of highly experienced, sector focused lawyers is one of the largest in the UK. Their team acts for both national and regional registered providers and provides specialist advice across a comprehensive range of legal areas. They were re-appointed to the CHIC framework and can assist members with all matters relating to lot 1 Corporate, Governance and Finance and lot 2 Housing and Asset Management.

Key contacts are listed below. For more information about our social housing expertise click here.

Corporate, Governance and Finance

Team email: !CHICCorpFin@clarkewillmott.com

Housing and Asset Management

Team email: housing.management@clarkewillmott.com

EMW is a leading regional commercial law firm with offices in Milton Keynes, London and Gatwick. Their real estate department includes sector teams specialising in social housing and residential development, as well as expert planning and construction lawyers. EMW is instructed by local and national housing associations, as well as private residential developers and local authorities, and has the experience to deal with any business needs that CHIC’s members may have. EMW strives to be an integral part of their clients’ businesses and keeps its fingers on the pulse of the social housing world with subscriptions to Inside Housing (including the podcast) and attendance at housing conferences, including hosting their own annual conference. Their lawyers are not just technical lawyers, but people with a genuine interest in the world of social housing and development.

Key contact:

Josh Clark - Associate – Development and Social Housing

Email: Josh.clark@emwllp.com

Direct dial: 0345 074 2391

Devonshires has specialised in providing legal advice to the social housing sector since the early 1970s. Recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories as one of the top 2 social housing sector law firms, they are at the forefront of current issues impacting the social housing industry. They advise clients on the full range of legal issues and are appointed to all 3 lots of the CHIC framework.

Key contacts are:

Lot 1 - Corporate, Governance & Finance

Julian Barker

020 7880 4365

julian.barker@devonshires.co.uk

Lot 2 - Housing & Asset Management

Neil Lawlor

020 7880 4273

neil.lawlor@devonshires.co.uk

Lot 3 - Property & Development

Jonathan Corris

020 7880 4305

jonathan.corris@devonshires.co.uk

CHIC’s Governance Model

CHIC is a consortium that is owned in equal part by all of its members. CHIC’s governance is overseen by a Board of Directors whose role it is to set the consortiums strategic direction, ensure that it provides the contracts, frameworks and services that the members want and to monitor operational delivery of the agreed strategy.

CHIC’s Board comprises:

An Independent Chair
Up to 10 further Directors – at least 8 of whom must be member representatives

CHIC’s Board reviews its mix of skills and experience regularly, to ensure that it has the requisite knowledge and experience to represent members effectively. Current Board Membership Comprises:

Independent Chair

Maggie Punyer – just re-elected by the Board for a second 3-year term this month

Member Representatives

Ian Hancock - Vice Chair of board, Executive Director / Managing Director, The Community Housing Group
Jayne Bissell - Group Procurement Manager, Connexus
Leon Storer - Assistant Director of Assets, Stonewater
David Wells - Head of Operational Services, The Wrekin Housing Trust
Naeem Nawaz - Head of Finance, Accent Group
Mark Pinnell - Executive Director of Assets and Development, Solihull Community Housing
Luke Beard - Assistant Director of Development & Asset Management, Two Rivers Housing
Mak Akinyemi – Formerly Director of Property Services, Gateway Housing Association

Independent Director

Sarah Payling – Strategic Partnerships Director, Ocean Media Group

If your organisation is a member of CHIC and you would be interested in Board Membership, when a suitable vacancy arises, then please contact Managing Director John Fisher jfisher@chicltd.co.uk / 0770230489 for further information.

Board Meetings

CHIC’s Board meets quarterly and has an annual business planning / strategic review ‘awayday’ with the full CHIC staff team. The Board last met (via Microsoft Teams) in late September. Some key decisions include:

Independent Chair – as mentioned above, the decision to appoint Maggie Punyer as Independent Chair for a second 3-year term. The board recognised the considerable contribution that Maggie has made to CHIC in her first term and look forward to the continuation of her enthusiasm and drive going forward.
New Staff – due to CHIC’s continued growth and expansion, the Board approved recruitment for the following roles:

Head of BuildSmart – to replace Amelia McCann who left us to join Citizen Housing in May

Head of Procurement – a new post to lead both new procurement (contracts and frameworks) and a range of mini-competitions now required by members

Data Analyst – another new post, to support CHIC’s commercial team working with our supply chain partners

Head of Member Services – a new role in the North West and North Wales, to support our members across North Wales and the Pennines.

SO, WE ARE RECRUITING – if you know of anyone who may be interested in these roles, please contact recruitment@arkconsultancy.co.uk for more information.

Membership

The Board also approve admission of CHIC’s members. They welcomed new members:

CDS Co-operatives
Powys Teaching Health Board
Global Student Accommodation
Optivo
Norse Group
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

CHIC currently has 105 member organisations.

CHIC CHAT

CHIC Webinars

Procurement Policy Note

George Boyd

CHIC’s New Modular Framework

CHIC’s Governance Model

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